How do you evaluate #sin (arccos.5 + arcsin .6)#?

2 Answers
Aug 15, 2015

Evaluate sin [arccos 0.5 + arcsin 0.6]

Ans: 0,99

Explanation:

Using calculator:
cos x = 0.5 --> arc x = 60 deg
sin x = 0.6 --> arc x = 36.87 deg
sin (60 + 36.87) = sin 96.87 = 0.99

Aug 15, 2015

#sin(arccos 0.5 + arcsin 0.6) = 0.3 + 0.8sqrt0.75#

Explanation:

If we want to do this without a calculator or trig tables, use the following:

#arccos 0.5# is some #alpha# in #[0, pi]# with #cos alpha = 0.5#.
We will need #sin alpha# so we note that with #alpha# in #[0, pi]#, we have #sin alpha# is positive.

Therefore #sin alpha = sqrt(1-cos^2 alpha) = sqrt 0.75#

By similar reasoning, #arcsin 0.6# is some #beta in [-pi/2, pi/2]# with #sin beta = 0.6# and #cos beta = sqrt(1-0.36) = sqrt (0.64) = 0.8#

We have been asked to find #sin(alpha + beta)#.

Use

#sin(alpha + beta) = sin alpha cos beta + cos alpha sin beta# and the values above to get:

#sin(alpha + beta) = (sqrt0.75)(0.8)+(0.5)(0.6)#

# = 0.3 + 0.8sqrt0.75#